We loaded up the Jeep, our packs, one dog, and headed to Iron Lake. Our plan was to 4WD into Iron Lake, then walk to several of the lakes nearby but we were rained out once we reached Iron Lake. I’m not complaining because we sure loved the rain, how it made everything look beautiful and smell wonderful.  We were yelling ...

Written by Marcia Penner Freedman – We’ve chosen to live in a forest, tens of thousands of us in eastern Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa Counties. Not just any forest, but a Sierra forest. And that means we’ve chosen to live with the certainty of fire. To complicate things, our communities sit at the edge of the million-acre Sierra National Forest, ...

YOSEMITE – Four rescued fisher (Martes pennanti) kits were released yesterday north of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. This historic reintroduction was a cooperative effort between the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW), Fresno-Chaffee Zoo, and the Fresno Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation. The reintroduction aims to increase the long term viability of the declining ...

OAKHURST — Kiwanis’ two day car show extravaganza known as Run for the Gold turned up a treasure chest of funds raised for charity, with the count at about $12,500, according to Kiwanis’ member Bob Spinelli. “The money goes to the mountain elementary schools in the form of grants that the teachers submit,” Spinelli explains. “These grants will be awarded ...

COARSEGOLD – Logan Sesto had a profound yet seemingly simple wish: a day of play at the beach. Not much is uncomplicated, though, when you’re someone like Logan. Now 5, the cherub-faced charmer lives with residual health effects of Transverse Myelitis (TM), an autoimmune disease he acquired as a baby. While being as active as possible, Logan is a paraplegic, so going ...

YOSEMITE – Hans Florine, world renowned rock climber, completed his 100th ascent of the Nose Route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Saturday, Sept. 12. Florine, along with Jayme Moye, an adventure writer from Boulder, Colo., and Fiona Thornewell, an adventurer from London, England, finished the ascent on Saturday afternoon, after beginning the climb on Thursday, Sept. 10. ...

Sally and I escaped the smoke, heat and a PG&E Smart Day, and headed up to beautiful Saddlebag Lake in the Tioga Pass area for a day of fishing.   Where: Inyo National Forest Distance: About 5 Miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation Range: 9,524’ – 10,167’ Date: September 10, 2015               We headed east on the Tioga ...

OAKHURST – Call it what you want: a lightbulb moment, an epiphany, a sound idea. Whatever term is used, it’s what Virginia Eaton had, and now locals may benefit as a result. She’s the owner of a new community fitness center designed with an emphasis on living — and aging — well. The Grand Opening of Class, the Body Pastiche ...

By Scott Lange — This week we’ll depart San Francisco on a journey to capture the nighttime sky along the 211 mile John Muir Trail, which begins in Yosemite and terminates atop Mt. Whitney. Leaving just after Labor Day will hopefully make for a quieter, less traveled trail, as well as some great late-summertime weather. Range of Light: Night & ...

OAKHURST – Sierra Tel invites area residents to return to Oakhurst Community Park this year to celebrate Patriot Day 2015, with Keynote Speaker Lieutenant Colonel David Hall of Coarsegold. LTC Hall is the current Executive Officer for the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade of the California Army National Guard. The day begins at 9 a.m. Patriot Day is intended to recognize ...